Tobacco processing method

ABSTRACT

A method for processing tobacco to remove harmful agents in the tobacco and to restore the tobacco with the harmful agents removed to a condition suitable for use in a cigarette. The method first comprises the steps of placing the tobacco in a boiling water for a preselected time period and subsequently drying the tobacco to remove harmful agents from the tobacco to a point at which the tobacco is friable. The dried tobacco is then rehydrated to restore the tobacco to a condition suitable for use in a cigarette by subjecting the dried tobacco to an atmosphere containing water wapor at a reduced temperature for a preselected period of time the rehydration is accomplished by locating the dried tobacco in a sealed, air-filled and water vapor containing container which is then subjected to such a low temperature that the moisture in the air surrounding the tobacco is condensed.

De Brunn et al.

Apr. 1, 1975 TOBACCO PROCESSING METHOD [76] Inventors: Albert W. De Brunn, 51 Diamond St., San Francisco, Calif. 94114; Gregory R. Feist, 1432 Laguna, Burlingame, Calif. 94010 [22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 448,085

[52] US. Cl. ..131/l43,131/133, 131/140 R [51] Int. Cl A24b 15/02 [58] Field of Search 62/64; 131/135-144, 17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 212,399 2/1879 Poladura 131/143 X 457,029 8/1891 Johns 131/143 678391 7/1901 Froehling 131/143 X 1,624,155 4/1927 Amster r 131/143 X 2029,494 2/1936 Locwenthal 131/143 X 3,612,066 10/1971 Jones et a] 131/140 P Primary Examiner-Melvin D.. Rein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Townsend and Townsend [5 7] ABSTRACT A method for processing tobacco to remove harmful agents in the tobacco and to restore the tobacco with the harmful agents removed to a condition suitable for use in a cigarette. The method first comprises the steps of placing the tobacco in a boiling water for a preselected time period and subsequently drying the tobacco to remove harmful agents from the tobacco to a point at which the tobacco is friable. The dried tobacco is then rehydrated to restore the tobacco to a condition suitable for use in a cigarette by subjecting the dried tobacco to an atmosphere containing water wapor at a reduced temperature for a preselected period of time the rehydration is. accomplished by locating the dried tobacco in a sealed, air-filled and water vapor containing container which is then subjected to such a low temperature that the moisture in the air surrounding the tobacco is condensed.

12 Claims, N0 Drawings TOBACCO PROCESSING METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for processing tobacco to remove agents from the tobacco which are believed to be harmful.

In the face of repeated warnings by the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association and other such organizations, legal requirements that warnings be placed on the outside of the cigarette packages and in all advertisements for cigarettes, and in spite of laws banning the advertising ofcigarettes in certain media, cigarette smoking the the United States has not been substantially reduced. In face, the net effect of the above activity seems to have been to make the smoking public immune from such warnings and advertisements, and cigarette smoking has recently begun to increase. Since the measures taken so far to combat cigarette smoking have been fundamentally unsuccessful, the only feasible alternative appears to be the provision of a cigarette which is safe to smoke and which is not physically addictive and the Federal Trade Commission has recently issued a report urging research toward this end.

Attempts to date to produce such a safe cigarette have been almost totally unsuccessful. One of the methods which has been attempted to reduce somewhat the dangers of cigarette smoking is to freeze dry the tobacco as described in the patent to Abbott et al, US. Pat. No. 3,704,716. The primary purpose of this method is to expand the tobacco into a larger volume so that less tobacco is used to make each cigarette rather than actually remove the harmful agents from the tobacco. It has been determined in tests conducted by the National Cancer Institute of the Department of Health. Education and Welfare that tar and nicotine levels of cigarettes are not substantially reduced by freeze drying processes now used. To the best of our knowledge. no other method has been advanced whith successfully reduces the harmful agents present or produced in the tobacco used in todays cigarette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method for processing tobacco which removes the agents in the tobacco which are believed to be harmful and still leaves the tobacco in a condition suitable for use in a cigarette. First, the tobacco is placed in a boiling liquid. After the tobacco is removed from the liquid, it is allowed to dry. Second, the dried tobacco is subjected to a defined at mosphei'e and the temperature of the atmosphere is substantially reduced for a preselected period of time.

The exact mechanism by which the harmful agents are removed from the tobacco in the above noted method is not fully understood at the present time. However, it would appear that the boiling of the to bacco contributes to the removal of the harmful agents from the tobacco. but leaves it in a condition basically unsuitable for use in a cigarette. The tobacco is quite friable at this stage. When the dried tobacco is subjected to the defined atmosphere and the temperature reduced. the dried tobacco is rehydrated to restore it to a condition suitable for normal smoking.

As discussed hereinbelow the tar and nicotine levels ofcigarette tobacco, the measures normally used to determine the harmful effects of the tobacco, are reduced dramatically by the processing method of the present invention. Furthermore, other less recognized but equally toxic effects of the cigarette tobacco, such as oxides of nitrogen and carbon; monoxide are substantially reduced. The extent of these reductions is set forth hereinbelow and is greater than would be expected from a mere expansion of the tobacco, although that also achieved. The tobacco processed by the method of the present invention still has characteristics similar to unprocessed tobacco and provides a high enjoyable but safe cigarette.

The novel features which are believed to be charac teristic of the invention, together with other advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description wherein a preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention is set forth by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the embodiment disclosed is for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment is illustrated by way of an example which will be discussed below. This embodiment has been utilized to process cigarette tobacco taken from existing cigarettes. However, the example method can also be applied to tobacco leaves or other stages in existing processes of making cigarette tobacco.

EXAMPLE The first step in the preferred! embodiment is to place the tobacco in boiling tap water (actually an aqueous solution) for 15 minutes. The tobacco is then removed from the boiling water and placed on a screen where it is pressed to remove excess moisture. In this example, the tobacco is pressed on the screen by hand. The next step is to lay the pressed tobacco on a sheet and spread the tobacco out to separate the fibers. The tobacco is dried by allowing it to lie on the sheet from 24-36 hours and is exposed to the sun during the day. The term drying" is used herein to specifically include passive drying such as in this example or active drying such as the infusion of heated air. The dried tobacco at this stage is quite friable and is unsuitable for making cigarettes since it would be crushed into a powder.

The fourth step is to pack the dried tobacco into a glass jar such as the glass liner used in the interior of a thermos bottle. Prior to inserting the tobacco, the jar contains atmospheric air, and the air is not evacuated from the jar. The jar is sealed after the tobacco is inserted so that air can neither enter or escape. The next step is to place the sealed jar containing the tobacco into a bucket filled with dry ice and adding acetone extending approximately half the way up the bucket. The temperature of the dry ice/acetone bath is approximately l 09.6 Farenheit, the sublimation temperature of the dry ice. Presumably the temperature in the interior of the jar is at or near the temperature of the bath. The top of the jar is left out of the bath to insure that none of the bath material enters the jar. The jar is left in the bath for approximately seven hours during which time the bath maintains itself at approximately a constant temperature. After the jar is removed from the bath, it is opened and the tobacco is removed. At this time, the tobacco has approximately the feel and body of the original tobacco prior to processing.

The boiling water remaining after the tobacco is removed thereform is extremely black and contains a high content of impurities which have been removed from the tobacco. These impurities include nicotine, tars, and agents which cause nitrous oxides and carbon monoxides when the tobacco is burned, all of which are generally believed to be harmful to the smoker. It is presumed therefore that the substantial reduction in the harmful agents in the tobacco occurs during the boiling. However, the results of this boiling is to leave the tobacco in a condition generally unsuitable for smoking.

Placing the tobacco in a sealed container and reducing the temperature in the container to 100 F. or more below zero brings back the original feel and texture of the tobacco. The exact mechanism of this step is also not known. However, it would appear that the reduction in temperature causes the water vapor in the container to condense on the tobacco which rehydrates the tobacco and restores the texture of the tobacco to near its original condition.

TEST PROCEDURE AND RESULTS The cigarette tobacco processed by the above method for use a test tobacco was taken from standard, unfiltered Pall Mall cigarettes. After processing, the cigarettes were re-rolled by hand using a Laredo" brand filter kit and a Tareyton brand filter charcoal element to form corresponding 85 mm cigarettes with a mm filter. Twenty cigarettes were so formed. Pall Mall 100 Filter Cigarettes, each measuring 100 mm in length including a mm filter were used as reference cigarettes. Although the filter elements were different, standard elements were used in all cases so that the results would not be significantly affected. All reference cigarettes and samples were individually analyzed.

The smoking machine employed to test the processed tobacco was constructed to duplicate the type B unit described by Kiefer, Touey'- and Mumpower A vacuum pump was attached to an eight liter surge tank, which was maintained at a guage pressure of 15 psi during smoking. A line from the surge tank led to a rotometer. than to an adjustable needle valve. to a threeway solenoid valve, and then to a T-conncctor. One side of the T led to a cigarette filter holder and collection flask. the other to an eight-inch water manometer. The pressure drop across the total cigarette during each puff of the smoking cycle was measured using the manometer.

'McConnel. Munford and 'l'ouey: 1960. Tobacco Science 4. Page 55. Kiel'cr. 'louey and Mempower: 1961 Tobacco Science 4. Page 31 "Bay Area Air Pollution Control District: Sampling and Analytical Methods for Total Nitrogen Oxides. method 11-3.

Sampling conditions during smoking were a flow rate of 1.050 milliliters per minute through the cigarette, and a milliliter puff of 2 second duration and one minute frequency at F and 60% relative humidity. The solenoid valve was actuated at 1-minute intervals. At the end ofcach 2-sccond puff, the valve was closed, terminating the puff and venting the puffing section of the smoking machine to the atmosphere. Methanol milliliters) was placed in the collection flask. Each cigarette was smoked to a length four millimeters from the filter. After sampling, the flask was sealed and left undisturbed for 15 minutes. Aliquots were then removed for TPM (total particulate matter. called "tar), and nicotine analyses.

A Turner Photofluorometcr was used for the TPM analyses. The excitation wavelength was 365 millimicrons, and fluorescence was measured at 415 millimicrons. Correlation of fluorescence readings with TPM was determined gravimetrically on a series of Pall Mall reference cigarettes. This relationship was found to be linear in the 1-10 milligrams of tar range. TPM values for the submitted cigarettes were obtained from this graph.

Nicotine was determined by flame ionization gas chromatography using a Varian 1400 instrument and an OV 17 column held at C. Quantitation was by direct comparison to nicotine standards prepared in methanol.

The-results of the above tests for TPM (tar) and total nicotine are presented in the following table wherein the reference cigarettes are designated PM and processed cigarettes as L.

Table 1 TPM and Total Nicotine Total No. of P TPM Total Cigarette Wt( gm) Puffs (H O) (mg) Nicotinet mg) PM-l 1.2045 12 1.8 3.4 0.2 PM-2 1.2405 13 2.0 2.2 0.7 PM-3 1.2190 11 2.0 3.2 0.8 L-l 0.7932 11 1.3 2.9 0.1 L-Z 0.9309 11 1.5 0.2 0.1 L-3 0.7804 12 1.3 2.0 0.1 L-4 0.9078 12 1.6 1.7 0.1 L-S 0.8873 13 1.4 0.4 0.1 L-() 0.8092 1'2 1.5 0.7 0.1 L-7 0.8660 11 1.3 3.6 0.1 L-8 0.8687 12 2.0 1.3 0.1

As can be seen. the values of tar and nicotine for the processed cigarettes is substantially less than that of the unprocessed cigarettes. ln fact, where a total nicotine Total No. of AP TPM Total Cigarette Wt( gm) Puffs (H 0) (mg) Nieotine( mg) PM 1.2213 12 1.9 2.9 0.6 L 0.8554 12 1.5 1.6 0.06

Oxide of Nitrogen (NOX) content was determined using a phenoldisulfonicacid colorimetric procedure. An aliquot of absorbing solution was placed in a 1-1iter evacuation flask. The opening of the flask was sealed with a stopper through which was inserted a 10 eenti meter length of pyrex tubing. The length of tubing which extended over the top of the stopper was attached to a o-centimeter length of tygon tubing which ended in a cigarette filter holder. The flask was evacuated using a vacuum pump, and the system sealed with a pinch clamp. A cigarette was placed in the holder, and the pinch clamp was slowly released. Each cigarette was smoked using a slow constant draw until the vacuum in the absorbing flask was depleted. The flask was then sealed and allowed to equilibrate undisturbed for 24 hours. Aliquots of the absorbing solution were then taken for analysis.

The following values for oxides of nitrogen were obtained by way of the above test:

Table ll Oxides of Nitrogen (NOXI Total Length *Total lng NO: **NO. NO:. (igar- Wt. Smoked per cm ppm. ppm cm ette (gm) (em) (mg) smoked vol. smoked PM-A 1.3124 9.] 1.06 011 565 61 PM-B l.2036 9.1 [.30 0.14 (wJl 75 PM-C L186) 8.5 l. l I. (H3 598 70 PM-D |.2530 7.3 0.138 0.09 359 4) L-A 0.9310 (.8 0.33 0.05 I77 26 [.-B 0.7752 X4 0.28 0.03 l46 l7 L-C 0.8860 6.3 0.30 005 I57 L-D 0.8325 6.8 0. l S 0.02 80 12 Total milligrams as N0 in the absorbing solution.

Parts per million b volume as NO: in air.

Again. the quantity of oxides and nitrogen is substantially reduced in the cigarettes using the processed tobacco. as illustrated in the following table giving average values for the two types of cigarettes:

To measure carbon monoxide content. a l-liter evacuation flask was sealed with a stopper through which was inserted a 10 centimeter length of pyrex tubing. The length ottubing which extended over the top of the stopper was attached to a b-centimcter length of tygon tubing which ended in a cigarette filter holder. The flask was evacuated using a vacuum pump, and the system sealed with a pineh elamp. A cigarette was placed in the holder. and the pinch clamp was slowly released. Each cigarette was smoked using a slow constant draw to a length 48 millimeters from its filter. The cigarette was removed, and air was drawn into the flask until the vacuum was deplete. The flask was sealed and allowed to equilibrate for several minutes. A H) milliliter aliquot of smoke was withdrawn from the flask and dilutetl with 990 milliliters of air. This was then drawnthrough an Ecolyzer. which has been standardized using Percent b \olume as carbon monoxide in the collection flask.

lhe reduction of carbon monoxide is lurther illustrated by the following average results of the above tests.

The above test results show :a dramatic reduction in the harmful agents resulting fromcigarctte smoking. The reductions are far in excess of that which would be obtained fromthe expansion of the tobacco indicated by the reduced weight of the cigarettes.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated by way of example, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of that cm bodiment will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

What we claim as new is:

l. The method of treating tobacco to remove selected constituents believed to be harmful therefrom which comprises extracting the said constituents from the tobacco by boiling the tobacco in water for a time sufficient to obtain a significant extraction of the said tobacco constituents, drying the tobacco to a point at which it is friable and generally unsuitable for normal cigarette usage, locating the thus dried tobacco in a sealed. air-filled, and water vapor containing container and subjecting the container to a very low temperature in such a way that the moisture in the air surrounding the tobacco is condensed and the tobacco rehydratcd to a degree sufficient for use in a cigarette.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the tobacco is placed in the boiling water for substantially l5 minutes.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said drying comprises spreading the tobacco to separate the fibers, and allowing the tobacco to dry in an ambient environment.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising the step of pressing the tobacco prior to drying said tobacco to remove excess water.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the container containing the tobacco is placed in a dry ice/acetone bath to subject said container to said very low temperature.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the con tainer is subjected to a temperature of no greater than 50 Farenheit for approximately 7 hours.

7. A tobacco product made in accordance with the method of claim 1.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the tobacco is placed in the boiling water for substantially 15 minutes, and wherein said reducing step comprises placing the container containing the dried tobacco into a dry ice/acetone bath for approximately 7 hours.

9. A method for processing tobacco for removing harmful agents in said tobacco and for restoring said tobacco to a condition suitable for use in a cigarette, said method comprising the steps of:

placing the tobacco in a boiling water to remove harmful agents from said tobacco;

removing the tobacco from the boiling water;

drying the removed tobacco;

inserting the dried tobacco into a container impervious to moisture, the interior of said container having an atmosphere including at least in part water vapor;

sealing the container to substantially prevent the transfer of moisture between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container;

reducing the temperature on the interior of the container to less than zero degrees Farenheit so that the atmosphere in the container is saturated with water vapor and a portion of the vapor condenses on the tobacco; and

removing the tobacco from the sealed container.

10. A tobacco product made in accordance with the method of claim 9.

11. A method for processing tobacco for removing harmful agents in said tobacco and for restoring the tobacco to a condition suitable for use in a cigarette, said method comprising the steps of:

packing comprises packing the dried tobacco into a glass jar having an open top in an ambient environment. 

1. THE METHOD OF TREATING TOBACCO TO REMOVE SELECTED CONSTITUENTS BELIEVED TO BE HARMFUL THEREFROM WHICH COMPRISES EXTRACTING THE SAID CONSTITUENTS FROM THE TOBACCO BY BOILING THE TOBACCO IN WATER FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO OBTAIN A SIGNIFICANT EXTRACTION OF SAID TOBACCO CONSTITUENTS, DRYING THE TOBACCO TO A POINT AT WHICH IT IS FRIABLE AND GENERALLY UNSUITABLE FOR NORMAL CIGARETTE USAGE, LOCATING THE THUS DRIED TOBACCO IN A SEALED, AIR-FILLED, AND WATER VAPOR CONTAINING CONTAINER AND SUBJECTING THE CONTAINER TO A VERY LOW TEMPERATURE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE MOISTURE IN THE AIR SURROUNDING THE TOBACCO IS CONDENSED AND THE TOBACCO REHYDRATED TO A DEGREE SUFFICIENT FOR USE IN A CIGARETTE.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the tObacco is placed in the boiling water for substantially 15 minutes.
 3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said drying comprises spreading the tobacco to separate the fibers, and allowing the tobacco to dry in an ambient environment.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising the step of pressing the tobacco prior to drying said tobacco to remove excess water.
 5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the container containing the tobacco is placed in a dry ice/acetone bath to subject said container to said very low temperature.
 6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the container is subjected to a temperature of no greater than -50* Farenheit for approximately 7 hours.
 7. A tobacco product made in accordance with the method of claim
 8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the tobacco is placed in the boiling water for substantially 15 minutes, and wherein said reducing step comprises placing the container containing the dried tobacco into a dry ice/acetone bath for approximately 7 hours.
 9. A method for processing tobacco for removing harmful agents in said tobacco and for restoring said tobacco to a condition suitable for use in a cigarette, said method comprising the steps of: placing the tobacco in a boiling water to remove harmful agents from said tobacco; removing the tobacco from the boiling water; drying the removed tobacco; inserting the dried tobacco into a container impervious to moisture, the interior of said container having an atmosphere including at least in part water vapor; sealing the container to substantially prevent the transfer of moisture between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container; reducing the temperature on the interior of the container to less than zero degrees Farenheit so that the atmosphere in the container is saturated with water vapor and a portion of the vapor condenses on the tobacco; and removing the tobacco from the sealed container.
 10. A tobacco product made in accordance with the method of claim
 9. 11. A method for processing tobacco for removing harmful agents in said tobacco and for restoring the tobacco to a condition suitable for use in a cigarette, said method comprising the steps of: boiling the tobacco in water for substantially 15 minutes; removing the tobacco from the boiling water; spreading the tobacco on a sheet and allowing said tobacco to dry in an ambient environment; packing the dried tobacco into a glass jar having an open top in an ambient environment; sealing the open top of the glass jar to render the container substantially impervious to moisture; placing the jar in the dry ice/acetone bath for between 5 and 9 hours; and removing the tobacco from the jar.
 12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said packing comprises packing the dried tobacco into a glass jar having an open top in an ambient environment. 